Author: Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) A three-judge Special Bench of the Supreme Court is slated to hear on Thursday a clutch of petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The Act prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a Special Bench headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan will hear the matter on December 12.

In March 2021, a Bench headed by then CJI S.A. Bobde sought the Centre’s response to the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law.

The plea said, “The 1991 Act was enacted in the garb of ‘Public order’, which is a State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-1) and ‘places of pilgrimages within India’ is also State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-7). So, the Centre can’t enact the Law. Moreover, Article 13(2) prohibits the State from making a law to take away fundamental rights but the 1991 Act takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs, to restore their ‘places of worship and pilgrimages’, destroyed by barbaric invaders.”

It further added, “The Act excludes the birthplace of Lord Rama but includes the birthplace of Lord Krishna, though both are incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the creator and equally worshipped throughout the world, hence it is arbitrary.”

Meanwhile, several intervention/impleadment applications have been moved before the apex court seeking the dismissal of the petitions against the Places of Worship Act.

In its application, the Managing Committee of Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque said the consequences of declaring the 1991 Act unconstitutional are bound to be drastic and will obliterate the rule of law and communal harmony.

It said that an Article 32 petition challenging a legislative enactment must indicate the unconstitutionality of the provisions based on constitutional principles and the rhetorical arguments seeking a sort of retribution against the perceived acts of previous rulers cannot be made the basis for a constitutional challenge.

As many as 20 suits are pending before different Varanasi courts seeking to nullify the protection accorded by the 1991 Act and to convert the character of the Gyanvapi Mosque and prevent access of Muslims to the mosque.

In a similar application, the Committee of Management of Mathura’s Shahi Masjid Eidgah said that the law was enacted by Parliament in the interest of the country’s progress, which has stood the test of time for more than 33 years.

The mosque committee said that the adjudication of the petitions against the Places of Worship Act is likely to have a significant bearing on the adjudication of its special leave petitions pending before the apex court against the dismissal of their application filed under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC (Code of Civil Procedure) and the pending suits against the applicant mosque committee.

The Management Committee of Shahi Masjid Eidgah is party to 17 different suits being tried by the Allahabad High Court, where the plaintiffs have staked a claim over the entire parcel of land over which the Shahi Masjid Eidgah has been built, and have further sought the removal of the mosque structure from the said land, claiming the same to have been built over Krishna Janm Sthan.

–IANS

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Lucknow, Dec 12 (IANS) Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday headed to Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, to meet the family of the victim in the 2020 rape case.

This visit follows a day after the LoP, along with his sister and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, visited the families of those who lost their lives in the November 24 Sambhal violence.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak reacted sharply to Rahul Gandhi’s visit, accusing him of “inciting riots” and “provoking people,” which he claimed was an attempt to “push Uttar Pradesh into chaos.”

“Rahul Gandhi Ji, you are misguided and filled with despair. The CBI has already completed its investigation in the Hathras case, and the matter is being heard in court as per legal procedures,” Pathak said.

“While you talk about progress, your actions — be it visiting Hathras, Sambhal, or Aligarh — seem directionless and derailed,” he added.

Pathak emphasised the state’s developmental progress, stating, “Uttar Pradesh is advancing rapidly in terms of infrastructure and law and order, which is recognised nationwide. Yet, it seems you want to disrupt this progress by provoking unrest. Please refrain from such actions. The country is tired of these unnecessary provocations.”

Meanwhile, in Hathras’ Boolgarhi village, security measures were tightened ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s visit.

Congress District President Chandragupta Vikramaditya defended the LoP’s visit, stating, “Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are leaders who stay connected with every citizen. Whenever injustice occurs, Rahul Gandhi stands with the victims. The responsibility the country’s leadership should fulfil is being taken up by him.”

The Hathras case, which drew nationwide attention, involved the gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl on September 14, 2020. She succumbed to her injuries on September 29, 2020.

Following a CBI investigation, four youths from the village were charged, and the case proceeded to trial. On March 2, 2023, the Special Court under the SC/ST Act convicted one accused, Sandeep, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 50,000. However, the court acquitted the remaining three accused.

The victim’s family, dissatisfied with the verdict, has appealed the decision in the High Court. They continue to demand government accommodation and jobs outside the village, a request yet to be fulfilled by the state government.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Some of the biggest NPAs originated between 2006 and 2008 under the UPA rule and the “incompetent Congress” has also been responsible for some of India’s biggest Non-Performing Assets, BJP national spokesperson and economist, Sanju Verma, said on Thursday.

Verma told IANS that this fact has already been conveyed by Rahul Gandhi’s “dear friend and the Congress Party’s poster-boy, Raghuram Rajan”.

“I am not a fan of Rajan but for once, he spoke the truth when he said that 2006-2008 was the period when the banking system saw its back broken by large corporates who had the power to get loans merely by making a phone call to South block or North Block system,” she emphasised.

Rebutting Rahul Gandhi’s “lies against India’s banking system,” Verma said that India’s public sector banks have actually hired more than 3.94 lakh people in the last 10 years alone.

Rahul Gandhi’s claim that India’s banking system is reeling under NPAs is not true and today, public sector banks have gross NPA to the tune of barely 3 per cent and net NPAs to the tune of barely 1.2 per cent.

“NPAs under the PM Modi government have fallen dramatically,” said Verma.

In the last 10 years, 54 crore Jan Dhan accounts and more than 52 crore collateral-free loans under various flagship financial inclusion schemes (PM MUDRA, Stand-Up India, PM-SVANidhi, PM Vishwakarma) have been sanctioned.

“And the biggest beneficiaries were not big corporates, but small-ticket businesses. They were marginal farmers. They were women, the youth entrepreneurs. In fact, 68 per cent of all PM MUDRA beneficiaries are women, 44 per cent of all PM-SVANidhi beneficiaries are women and 67 per cent of the PM Vishwakarma scheme are women,” said Verma.

In fact, unarguably, India is the only major economy which did not see any bank going bust post the COVID-19 pandemic, as large global banks collapsed. she said.

“India’s banks are thriving, not just surviving. They are in good shape. And that’s great news. Rahul Gandhi needs to realise that India is not just the world’s fifth largest economy but is on its way to becoming the fourth largest in January 2025, by overtaking Japan, and we should be seeing a GDP size of close to $4.34 trillion, growing at the rate as we are,” Verma told IANS.

–IANS

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Bhopal, Dec 12 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will lay the foundation stones for several projects, including the Sondwa lift irrigation project worth Rs 1,700 crore in the Alirajpur district on Thursday.

The ambitious project, which will provide water for irrigation for over 55,000 hectares of land in 169 villages of Alirajpur, was approved the Cabinet earlier in July this year.

During his visit, he will also perform ‘bhoomi pujan’ for various schemes of the Water Resources Department, Public Service Engineering Department and many other departments.

He will also inspect the Krishi Vikas Kendra, being established at Chhakatla for coarse grains’ promotion and production.

Before leaving for Alirajpur, the Chief Minister will address the representatives of gram panchayats in his home district Ujjain. The programme is part of ‘Jan Kalyan Parv’ (public welfare campaign) launched on Wednesday.

He has also launched ‘Mukhya Mantri Jan Kalyan Abhiyan’ on the completion of the first year of his government in the state.

The two programmes aimed to highlight the works undertaken during his tenure and provide the benefit of the government’s welfare schemes to more people. Both these campaigns will be run from December 11 to 26 and December 11 to January 26, respectively.

Notably, Mohan Yadav, a third-term MLA from Ujjain (Dakshin), was chosen as the BJP legislative party leader on December 11, 2023, and was sworn in as the state’s chief minister on December 13.

He replaced the state’s longest-serving CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is now a Union Cabinet Minister, after the BJP stormed back to power with a massive mandate in the November 2023, Assembly elections.

“Under the Mukhya Mantri Jan Kalyan Abhiyan, a door-to-door survey will be conducted to ensure that the benefits of 34 beneficiary-oriented schemes, 11 target-based schemes, and 63 services are provided to the people. Every eligible person will be linked to public welfare schemes through the campaign,” CM Yadav has announced.

–IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 12 (IANS) As part of the celebrations marking the first anniversary of the BJP government, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is set to deliver significant initiatives for the youths during the Mukhya Mantri Rozgar Utsav and Youth Conference at Marwar International Center, Jodhpur, on Thursday.

CM Sharma will distribute appointment letters for government jobs to over 15,000 youth across the state and launch the recruitment process for more than 85,000 posts. These initiatives aim to fulfil the employment aspirations of the youth and serve as a critical step towards the vision of ‘Suraj Sankalp.’ Notably, in line with its commitment to providing continuous employment opportunities, the government has previously distributed thousands of appointment letters in two earlier Chief Minister Employment Festivals.

Additionally, Sharma will inaugurate several transformative initiatives, including 8,020 Smart Classrooms in 4,010 schools e-Pathshala and Vidya Samiksha Kendra, The Learn, Earn and Progress Programme, The Rajasthan Target Olympic Podium Scheme, Sports Life Insurance Scheme, Business Innovation Programme

These programmes are designed to equip students in the state with access to modern education and advanced learning opportunities.

During the celebration, the Chief Minister will also provide funding to 155 startups, distribute bicycles to 1.25 lakh girl students, business toolkits to 75,325 students, tablets to 23,100 students, and scooters to 21,000 girls.

Marking the government’s first anniversary, special initiatives will extend beyond youth and offer substantial support to farmers, women and workers. The foundation stone laying and inauguration of various developmental projects across the state will further bolster efforts to build a stronger, more developed Rajasthan by 2047.

Chief Minister Sharma said various programmes will be organised in the entire state from December 12 to 15 and December 17 and special gifts will be given to various sections, including youth, women, farmers, and labourers by inaugurating development works, laying foundation stones and launching schemes.

In a review meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence on Wednesday, CM Sharma said that the Run for Vikasit Rajasthan will be organised in all the districts of the state on Thursday. He directed to ensure maximum participation of youth in the organisation of ‘Run for Vikasit Rajasthan’.

CM Sharma said that under the state-level Kisan Sammelan to be held in Ajmer on December 13, DBT transfer will be done under the second instalment of Chief Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi as well as other schemes. He directed that the farmers of the state should be encouraged to adopt innovations in agriculture.

The Chief Minister reviewed the preparations for various schemes, including the making of one lakh women Lakhpati Didi under the Mahila Sammelan to be held in Udaipur on December 14.

–IANS

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Chennai, Dec 12 (IANS) Tamil Nadu BJP has accused the INDIA bloc of engaging in a “shameful political drama” by bringing a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and also termed it as ‘blackmail politics’.

Party spokesperson and senior leader A.N.S. Prasad described the move as a desperate attempt to malign the BJP government.

He said this was the first instance in the 72-year history of the Rajya Sabha where such a motion was introduced, calling it a blatant example of “blackmail politics”.

The BJP leader alleged that the opposition’s actions were aimed at intimidating and undermining the authority of the Chairman, thereby posing a threat to India’s democratic values.

He stated that the Congress-led opposition’s no-confidence motion against the RS Chair was born out of frustration and an inability to counter the numerous people-centric initiatives undertaken by the BJP, which have received massive support nationwide.

“Despite knowing they lack the numbers, the opposition resorts to disruptive tactics in Parliament to undermine the government’s authority, which is highly deplorable,” Prasad said.

Prasad criticised the demand for the removal of the Rajya Sabha Chairman, describing it as an example of “low-level politics” driven by Rahul Gandhi’s divisive ideology.

He accused the opposition of tarnishing India’s global image and creating false narratives about the country’s democracy.

“This no-confidence motion is nothing but a diversionary tactic to shift focus from real issues and mislead Indians. Rahul Gandhi and the INDI alliance will fail in their attempts, as the public can see through their disruptive antics,” Prasad added.

Explaining the constitutional framework, Prasad referred to Article 89 of the Indian Constitution, which establishes the office of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who also serves as the Vice President of India.

He highlighted the Chairman’s critical role in maintaining order and decorum in the House, interpreting rules, and ensuring that parliamentary business is conducted smoothly and efficiently. “The Chairman’s impartiality and independence are vital for the functioning of the Parliament. Attempts to undermine this constitutional position are not only unconstitutional but also against the principles of parliamentary democracy,” Prasad said.

He accused the opposition parties of using the no-confidence motion as a tool to blackmail the government and extract concessions. He said that the motion is a serious constitutional instrument meant for exceptional circumstances, not for routine political gains.

“The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is not a political appointee but a constitutional functionary responsible for upholding the Constitution and the rules of the House. The opposition’s actions to intimidate or blackmail the Chairman are unacceptable,” he stated.

Prasad further cited the 1959 Supreme Court case of Pandit M.S.M. Sharma vs. Shri Sri Krishna Sinha, where the Court upheld the Chairman’s authority to decide the admissibility of a no-confidence motion. He underscored that the Chairman’s decision on such matters is final and binding.

“The opposition must respect the independence and impartiality of the Chairman. Their misuse of the no-confidence motion for political gain is condemnable. The Chairman’s decision on the motion’s admissibility is final and binding and must be respected by all parties,” Prasad concluded.

–IANS

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